Valve-operating means for flush tanks



March 15 1927. 1,620,647-

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15, 19237.

WILLIAM U. GRIFFITHS, F PHILADELPHIA, E'ENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-OPERATING MEANS FOR FLUSH TANKS.

Application filed March 24, 1926. Serial No. 96,625.

My invention relates to means for opening and closing valves employed in connection with flush tanks for controlling the flushing of water closet hoppers and like.

One of the difiiculties encountered in connection with means for operating valves of the character referred to has beenthat the movement of such means is likely to become discontinued at some intermediate point whereby the valve is maintained in'an open position for an indefinite period of time as a result of which a greater or less amount of water may bewasted.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide means of novel but simple construction for operating flush tank valves in a reliable manner so that the possibility of the said valves being held in open position for an indefinite period of time is reduced to a minimum if not entirely eliminated, 1

Another object of the invention is to provide means of the character indicated in which the parts thereof are so supported and related to each other that when moved for the purposeof actuating a flush tank or similar valve structure they are not likely to stop at some intermediate position and thereby hold the valve indefinitely in an open position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. flush tank valve operating mechanism. comprising a rotatable shaft member having a crank at its inner end to which crank one end of a pivoted lever is connected, the said lever having a movable fulcrum connected to an intermediate part thereof.

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, particularly pointed out in the claims, and as illustrated in the drawing in which I have shown one form of embodiment of the invention. However, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the-scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a flush tank provided with valve operating mechanism embodying the invention, a portion of the tank being broken away for the purpose of exposing the valve mechanism,

which mechanism as well as the means for operating the same is shown also in side elevation, a portion of the said last mentioned means being shown in dash? lines;

Fig. 2 is a View inv rear elevation of the valve operating mechanismmounted upon a side of the flush tank, a portion of which sideis shown; y

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a View in perspective leaking; from the front toward the rear of the said valve operating mechanism, a portion of said mechanism being broken away in order that other portions thereof may be more clearly shown.

Referring to the drawing: 1 designates a flush tank provided with an outlet at 2 which is adapted to be controlled by means of a ball valve 3. Associated with the outlet 2 is an overflow'pipe 4 of usual construction. The valve 3 is provided with a stem 5 which extends through and is guided by a sleeve 6 mounted upon the outer end of an arm 7 supported upon the overflow pipe 4E. The upper end of the stem 5 above the sleeve 6 is provided with an enlargement consisting of a bend or eye 10 by means of which a link connection 11 is retained in engagement with the said stem. The upper end of the said link connection 11. is con nectedto the outer swinging end of a valve actuating lever 12 the opposite or outer end of which is connected to a crank pin 13 which projects outwardlyfrom a crank arm 14 upon the inner end of a shaft 15 which is mounted to rotate in a bushing 16 which extends through an opening 17 through a side 17 of the tank 1. The bushing 16 is stationarily mountedwithin an opening 18 upon the bushing operates to hold the knob 23 in place to conceal the opening 17 previously referred to. The inner end of the bushing 16 is screw threaded for the reception of a clamping and holding nut25. The said nut clamps against the enlarged end portion 19 of the arm 20 and holds it in place against the inner side of the side 17 The said nut also operates to cause the head upon the outer end of the bushing 16 to clamp against a shoulder upon the knob 23 to clamp and hold the latter in the position shown in the drawing. A handle 26 is connected to the outer end of the shaft in any suitable manner and is employed for effecting'rotation of the said shaft.

In order to secure the crank arm 11 to the inner end of the shaft 15 the said arm is provided with an enlargement or projection having a recess or hollow therein into which the inner end of the said shaft is inserted. The crank arm is held in place by means of a binding screw 31, as indicated. By fastening the crank arm 14 to the shaft 15 in this manner it will be seen that the said arm may be rotatably adjusted about the shaft in case such adjustment should be desired.

The intermediate portion of the valve actuating lever 12 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot 33 to the outer ends of links 34. The said pivot constitutes a swinging or movable fulcrum for the lever 12. The opposite ends of the links 34 are pivot-- ally mounted upon a projection 35 extending rearwardly from the outer end of the arm 20;

When it is desired to operate the valve actuating means the handle 26 is turned or rotated to cause rotation in one direction or the other of the shaft 15. Such rotation causes a corresponding rotation of the crank arm 14 mounted upon the inner end of the said shaft. Rotation of the arm 14 causes longitudinal movement of the lever and a simultaneous pivotal movement thereof aboiit the movable fulcrum 33. Longitudinal movement of the lever 12 causes pivotal movement of the links 34. Pivotal or swinging movement of the fulcrum 33 upon the outer swinging ends of the links 3 1, which takes place simultaneously with the pivotal movement of the lever 12 due to the rotation of the crank arm 1-1, results in a vertical movement of the lever 12 which causes an amplification in the movement of the inner end thereof to which the link 11 is connected,

'whereby the valve 3 is moved well away from its seat upon the upper end of the outlet 2. 1

Furthermore the presence of the links 3& operates to prevent an interruption of the movement of rotation of the handle 26 and shaft 15 at a dead center point to hold the valve indefinitelyin an open position whereby an unnecessary amount of water may be permitted toflow through the outlet at 2 thereby causing waste. In other words, assuming that the lever 26 is turned into an upwardly extending, substantially vertical position, the action of the weight of the lever 12, which has pivotal connection with the links 34:, and the crank arm 14 is to cause the said handle to move or rotate from such position either in one direction or the other. In other words, the construction is such as to prevent a balanced condition of the parts at such time in consequence of which the said handle 26 when released always returns to the depending position in which it is shown in l? ig. 1 of the drawing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In means of the character described, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a lever extending transversely of said shaft and having connection thereto at a point a distance from the axis thereof, a pivotally movable fulcrum having engagement with the said lever at an intermediate portion there of, and means for causing rotation of said shaft to effect longitudinal and pivotal, movements of the said lever.

2. In means for actuating a flush tank valve, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a lever having operative connection at one end with the said valve and having connection at its opposite end with the said shaft at a point eccentrically related to the axis of the latter, a swingingly supported fulcrum having pivotal connection with the said lever at a point intermediate its ends, and means for efiiecting rotation of said shaft to cause simultaneous longitudinal, vertical and pivotal movements of the said lever.

3. In means for actuating a flush tank valve, the combination of a shaft mounted upon a side of a flush tank, the said shaft having upon its inner end a crank, a valve to be actuated, a lever having operative connection at one end to the said valve and having pivotal connection at its opposite end-to the said crank at a point located eccentrically of the axis of said shaft, a link mount ed at its lower end upon a stationary pivot and having pivotal connection at its upper end with the said lever at a point intermediate its ends, and means for causing rotation of the said shaft.

In means for actuating the valve of a flush tank for water closet apparatus, the combination of a shaft mounted upon a side of the flush tank, said shaft having a crank upon its inner end, a valve, a lever having operative connection at one end to the said valve and pivotal connection at its opposite end to the said crank, a stationary pivot, a link having connection at its lower end to said pivot, means for pivotally connecting the upper end of said link to the said lever at a point intermediate its opposite ends, the said connection constituting a fulcrum about which the said lever is adapted to be rotated, and means for rotating said shaft.

5. I11 means for actuating a valve of a flush tank for Water closet apparatus, the combination of a lever, a valve, means for operatively connecting one end of said lever to the said valve, a swinging fulcrum having connection With said lever at a point intermediate its ends, and means for actuating the said lever to cause simultaneous pivotal, longitudinal and vertical movements thereof to cause an opening movement of the said valve.

6. In means of the character described, the combination of a lever, a valve, means for operatively connecting one end of said lever to said valve, a hnk mounted at one end up on a stationary pivot and having pivotal connection at its opposite end to an inter mediate portion of the said lever, and rotatable means having connection with the opposite end of said lever and adapted to be rotated to actuate the said lever to open the said valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed in name this 4th day of March, A. 1)., 1926.

WILLIAM U. GRIFFITHS. 

